THE DISCOVERY OF SUBFOSSIL OAK

Subfossil Oak Company and Crystal Caviar, the manufacturers of luxury products based in the Czech Republic, showcased an exclusive 12-piece collection of 6,500-year-old subfossilised oak trees, along with artwork by renowned artists Jaroslav Prošek, Sir Anthony Douglas Cragg, and Vlastimil Beránek. A selection of products made from the unique wood were also on display during a limited showcase at the Jetex VIP Terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport. Discovered more than eight meters deep in the ground, the subfossil oak trees were remarkably preserved for a staggering 6,500 years by glacial sediments in the North Moravia region of the modern Czech Republic, and are the first trees known to exist following the Ice Age.

Collections of the subfossil oaks trees are currently on display in several of the most significant museums across Europe, including the Natural History Museum in Vienna, the Manchester Museum in Manchester, the National Museum in Prague, the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, the Natural History Museum in London, the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, and the Museo de Arte Moderno in Bogota in Latin America. International Representative Radek Kantor shared insights about the extraordinary discovery and what makes them so unique.

How have the oak trees been preserved for 6,500 years? Scientists believe that these trees have been formed by the meandering rivers, when the erosion and expansion of water caused an undermining of the riverbanks, ultimately resulting in a collapse of the trees growing by the riverside into the river. Over time, multiple floods in the area would seal them by several layers of sediments, giving space for the transformation process to begin in the oxygen and microbe-free environment.

There, the oaks laid for several millennia, until they were found seven years ago, approximately eight meters deep in the ground in the North Moravia region of today’s Czech Republic. Over time, the oak trees obtained their distinctive dark colour due to the process of carbonisation. Consequently, these oaks are subfossils— not fossils — meaning the process of carbonisation, petrification, and other natural mechanisms have not yet been completed. There are plenty of fossils in the world, but rather few subfossils since the window of time for all the necessary conditions to occur simultaneously was significantly shorter.

From which sector of the industry have the oaks seen the most demand?

The subfossil oaks are a globally unique material that have garnered attention from various fields of human endeavour. Such demand is especially strong in artistic and functional design circles, considered as an ideal material for unique yacht and interior installations, decorative objects, elegant accessories, and high-end furniture pieces for both private and public places. Furthermore, for its precious nature, many known artists choose subfossil oak as their unique working material, giving life to several famous sculptures, such as the one from the worldrenowned sculptor Sir Anthony Douglas Craig, Jaroslav Prosek, and Vlastimil Beranek, a distinguished artist specialising in Bohemian Crystal.

What makes these types of wood so unique?

Originating from the time of the end of the last Ice Age, the subfossil oaks contain crucial information about the climate conditions of this long-forgotten era. For their unparalleled characteristics and rare information hidden within their annual rings, the subfossil oaks are a highly demanded scientific material, resulting in an established cooperation with world’s leading scientific institutions, such as the national museums of London, Prague, Vienna, Berlin, and Bogota, where the subfossil oaks are currently exhibited.

The scientific research has shown that these trees are partially mineralised, meaning that the process of transformation into a fossil has already started. Yet, despite their age, the subfossil oaks have maintained their basic wood properties, allowing further processing of the extraordinary material. As a result, subfossil oaks have become a synonym for luxurious materials, granting master craftsmen an opportunity to turn the ancient wood into breathtaking design pieces suited for the world’s most discerning clientele.

What about oak trees and the wood make it so luxurious and valuable?

Due to their unique mineralised structure, distinctive dark colour, and impressive degree of preservation, trees from this forest are rightfully considered as one of the most precious wooden materials currently found on the planet. To that end, the region of North Moravia is the only place in the world where this material can be found in the given age, quality, and quantity. As of today, the Subfossil Oak Company remains the only private company with legal certification to extract, process, and export the precious material.

What inspired the Subfossil Oak Company to enter the UAE market?

The duty of the Subfossil Oak Company is to spread the message of these ancient relics and offer them new life through cooperation with world’s greatest institutions, companies, and individuals who wish to help us maintain and safeguard their fascinating legacy for future generations. For this, the Subfossil Oak Company was chosen to represent the Czech Republic at Expo 2020, with millions of confirmed viewers from across the world seeing the mysterious elegance of these trees. We sense the appreciation of beauty, the respect for traditions and interest in history that shape the UAE’s vision of the future and how that aligns with what we have to offer. Such beliefs were reaffirmed when the Czech pavilion was awarded with the title of the greatest innovation of the entire Expo 2020, further endorsing the prestige and singularity of the pieces forming the pavilion. Based on these successes, along with genuine popularity of our exposition during the 2022 Monaco Yacht Show, we have established a successful short-term cooperation with the famous Jetex VIP Private Jet Terminal, which has further boosted our commitment to the region. Realising the importance of fossil products for the UAE’s society and economy, we see added symbolic value of the subfossil oaks for the local audience and potential strategic partnerships.